A Family Affair with the Bagwells

Though I have been a photographer for the better part of, well, my life, it was only just over a year ago I started taking newborn portraits. It was the experience with my own children that gave me the confidence that I wouldn't break these babies or somehow traumatize them. I hit the ground running and haven't looked back...until now. The first babies that I photographed days after their arrival just turned 1!! I'm so happy that I got the opportunity to photograph this milestone too! These are just a couple of my favorite shots from Avery's session. In all honesty, as picky as I am, I can't pick just a few favs and I know it has been hard for her parents to decide which prints to get! All I can say is "Thanks, beautiful Avery, for making my job so easy!"

Ruby & Elvis, sibling portrait

Oh, my sweet babies!  This is still about the only way I can get Ruby to take a picture with 'baby brudda'! I've been thinking about taking a photo series to hang in their bedroom and this is my first attmept. Poor Ruby woke up sick, so I thought maybe with her being super sleepy it would be easier to get her to stay asleep while I posed her. She actually WANTED to take pictures while awake today (she saw me bring the camera into their room before nap time), but that only lasted for about 5 minutes.  If I had had an assistant with me I probably could have eeked out a few more minutes! Elvis was super cooperative, as usual, but how could a 4 month old not be? (Today is exactly 4 months for him!) I can't wait to get back to taking pictures of other people's children. . .I'm just more focused on the photography when the little ones aren't mine! I am now accepting appointments for newborn/maternity/sibling sittings! Email me with your inquiries! 

Portraits, Baby Elvis and the Terrible Twos

A few days after her birthday we took Ruby and her "baby brudda", Elvis, to the lakes for their very first photos together.  What went down we had no preparation for!  Ruby went ballistic! Granted, I do usually take a more 'creative' approach when I shoot pics of Ruby (or any other toddler for that matter), but I just wasn't prepared for the torrent of emotion that she let loose. You would have thought that the baby was a carrier of the black plague and Ruby was the only one who knew it.  We tried bribing her with candy, we tried reasoning with her, we even tried bribing her with "you can hold baby brother all by yourself" (we were so desperate), but all we got back from her is "baby brudda is YUCKY" (something we had not heard before or since).  I was completely gobsmacked by all of this.  I have NEVER had a problem with other children, but shooting photos of your own is a whole other beast all together!  Alex had to keep reminding me of that because my confidence as a photographer was really waning.  Poor little Elvis slept through the entire ordeal, so I got a few good ones of him all by his lonesome! Here's hoping that I didn't buy their little coordinating outfits in vain (b/c I have about a years worth of them)!

Ruby's 2nd Birthday!

Ruby's 2nd birthday was last weekend.  Let me tell you, the realization that your baby is growing up is a hard pill to swallow.  I find myself just staring at her in complete disbelief at how BIG she is. Now, she's no bigger than her friends that are her age, but my goodness she seems like a giant compared to her little brother!  I also can't help but let my mind wander to what she'll be like when she's 5, 10 . . . 50!  Are we doing right by her?  Are we raising a wonderful future adult? Argh, parenting is confusing and totally stressful! Though, outweighing the stresses and confusion are the most wonderful things anyone could imagine!

Ruby's party was awesome! All of her best buds were there. . .Owen, the boyfriend; Grady & Brookston, buds forever; Nana Becca, the best aunt ever; Camryn, lil' sis from another mother; not to mention grandparents galore and Mommy & Daddy's friends!  It was an art party with painting, sidewalk chalk, lots of messiness, and cake & CHOCOLATE ice cream to top it all off! 

We are so fortunate to have our amazing 2 year old Ruby!  We love every day with her, but wish it would slow down a bit!  

Newborn Portraits, Elvis

I have finally gotten around to doing baby Elvis's newborn portraits! The past 3 weeks have thrown us some super curve balls! First with E coming so early, then our second stay in the hospital to get light treatment for super high levels of bilirubin, my Mom having an emergency apendectomy, and Ruby's mystery illness which has turned out to most likely be just an attempt to put herself back in the spotlight (fingers crossed).  I would have liked to have done these photos at 2 weeks rather than 3, but what I did get turned out pretty good.  I am only about 2/3 of the way through all of shots I want to get so I guess I'll end up with 4 week pics too!  I usually have parents at a shoot to tend to the little ones while I am changing props and backdrops.  I was on my own for this one (Alex was with Ruby at the Dr.s office) and it took FOREVER!  When it was time to nurse I actually had to nurse the baby instead of setting up for the next shot. . .when a diaper needed changing, there I was changing it. . .you get the picture!  Considering all that I put him through, baby Elvis did wonderfully during the shoot!  I'm super proud of my little model!  I love him!  Look back for more family photos and pics with Ruby & Elvis!

He's here! 4 WEEKS EARLY!

Elvis James Austin made his appearance in a rather dramatic fashion 4 weeks before his due date!  We are completely overjoyed and exhausted as a family of 4! More later when I have another spare minute! 

Too big and too slow!

I thought this was a fitting photo to use for my announcement of maternity leave.  It is one of my favorites of Ruby from over a year ago (she was about 7 months old here).  As of right now I am only about 32 weeks pregnant, but don't have nearly enough energy to conduct a photo shoot like I like to!  For those of you who have watched me take pictures or have had them taken by me, you know what I mean.  I am a roll around on the ground, run after my subject, climb on furniture, nonstop movement kind of photographer!  That just isn't possible right now, so I am not taking any new clients probably until the new year.  But please check back here on my blog to see any new pictures I might have the energy to take and pictures of our new addition, Elvis James (when he decides to make his grand entrance)!